Footwear and system for displaying collectibles

ABSTRACT

A piece of footwear has a sole and a heel mount on the sole suitable for mounting and displaying one of a plurality of interchangeable collectible heels. Collectible heels may be mounted to the heel mount. Each of the collectible heels adorned with collectible markings, such as the name of an athlete, the emblem of a sports team, a real or fictitious character, a national flag, or collegiate marking or other marks, drawings designs or the like suitable, for collecting. Optionally, multiple heels may be mounted on a display board, and thus housed and display together.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to collectibles, and more particularly to footwear, and collectible items that may be affixed to such footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, character, team and collegiate merchandising have become increasingly popular and sources of significant revenue. Such merchandising is often accomplished through the sale of form of toys, clothing and collectibles.

Example collectibles include souvenirs, toys, glasses, figurines and the like. Typically, collectables are single use items and are difficult to store, creating clutter. Moreover, displaying the collectables as a collection or individually is often challenging.

Accordingly, there is a need for new system and devices for collectable merchandising and for the display and use of such collectibles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piece of footwear, having a sole and a heel mount suitable for mounting and displaying one of a plurality of collectible heels wherein each of the heels comprises a complementary mount, and is adorned with collectible markings, and wherein the plurality of heels are interchangeable.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for housing and displaying collectible heels. The system comprises: a display board having a plurality of heel mounts, each of the heel mounts for mounting and displaying one of the heels; a piece of footwear, having a sole and a heel mount suitable for mounting and displaying one of the heels; wherein each of the heels when mounted to the footwear acts as a walking support for the footwear, and wherein the heels are interchangeable.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures which illustrate by way of example only, embodiments of the present invention,

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for display collectibles, exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views of footwear exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the footwear of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the footwear of FIG. 2, with collectible removed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the footwear of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a collectible, exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the collectible of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is top view of several collectible for use in the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is front view of display board of the system of FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for displaying and retaining collectibles, exemplary of an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, system 10 includes at least one piece of footwear 12 and a display board 14. Both footwear 12 and display board 14 are suitable for retaining and displaying collectibles. In a depicted embodiment, the collectibles are themed heels 16 a, 16 b and 16 c (hereinafter heels 16) that may be removably attached to footwear 12 and display board 14. Conveniently, and as will become apparent, in the depicted embodiment, themed heel 16 may function as a tradition heel on footwear 12 to support footwear 16 when worn, or as a badge for placement on display board 14.

Footwear 12 is more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6. As illustrated, footwear 12 may take the form of a conventional athletic shoe having a body 20, formed of leather, fabric, or other suitable material, formed on a sole 34. Body 20 may be integrally formed, or formed of one or more gores suitably sown and/or supported with synthetic fibres, frames or components. Body 20 may be closed once worn, using laces 24 or another suitable closure such as a zipper, hook and loop fastener, domes or the like. Body 20 extends upwardly from sole 34 of footwear 12. Heel 16 may be removably affixed to sole 34.

As best viewed in FIG. 5, in the depicted embodiment, heel 16 may include an annular threaded ridge 32 that serves as a mount for heel 16. Sole 34 of footwear 12 may include a generally circular opening 36 on its bottom having complementary annular thread 38 along an interior ridge, for receiving the thread of ridge 32 of heel 16. In this way, heel 16 may be removably attached to body 20, by screwing the thread of threaded ridge 32 into thread 38 of opening 36. Conveniently, multiple different heels 16, each equipped with a mount, may be attached to sole 34 of body 20. As such, and as will become apparent, footwear 12 may serve to showcase different heels 16 at different times. As will be appreciated, opening 36 could take another shape. For example, opening 36 could be annular.

Body 20 may further include a threaded bore 26 somewhere on the periphery of sole 34 proximate its heel. Bore 28 may extend through the sidewall of sole 34 into opening 36 to allow a set screw 28 to make contact with ridge 32 of heel 16. Bore 28 may be suitably threaded to receive set screw 26. Set screw 26 may be made of nylon, metal or other suitable material.

In the depicted embodiment, removable heel 16 is generally disc shaped, as more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9. Heel 16 is generally circular but may be any suitable shape. Heel 16 may be formed of rubber, plastic, foam, or other suitable material.

Conveniently, heel 16 may be adorned with some collectable marking. For example, heel 16 may be adorned with the name of an athlete, the name and emblem of a sports team, a real or fictitious character, a national flag, collegiate marking, or other markings, drawings, designs, or the like. Markings may be painted onto heel 16, glued, embossed, or the like. Example non-limiting heel adornments are illustrated in FIG. 9. Conveniently, the heel of footwear 12 may be interchanged as desired by a wearer, by affixing different heels 16 to body 20. Different heels 16 may be made of different materials, of different colours, and different aesthetic designs, and may be updated frequently. Optionally, different heels 16 may be of different dimensions (i.e. height) and/or different treads. In this way, footwear 12 may serve as a moving display for different heels 16 allowing a wearer to illustrate one or more allegiances and the ownership of one or more collectable heels.

Optionally, each heel 16 may include lighting in the form of one or more LEDs located so as to be visible in the periphery or bottom of the heel. An LED driver may cause the LEDs to illuminate. Illumination may be constant or intermittent (i.e. flashing). Optionally, the heel 16 may include a battery in the form of a watch battery or the like, suited to power the lights. Further, each heel 16 may be outfitted with a motion or impact sensor so that embedded lights may be actuated upon impact. Optionally, heel 16 may be equipped with one or more external contacts that may be used to actuate lights as further described below.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example display board 14 for use as part of the system 10 of FIG. 1. As illustrated, display board 14 includes a generally rigid substrate 50 on which a plurality of holes or openings 52 are formed that serve as heel mounts. Board 14 could be formed of plastic, wood or other material sufficient rigid to support heels 16. Board 14 could be mounted on a wall, or could include a stand (not shown) to be self-supporting. Board 14 could alternatively be formed or a flexible or foldable material, and could be rolled or folded for storage. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 10, holes 52 are arranged as a generally rectangular array. However, a person of ordinary skill will realize that the holes 52 may be formed in any arbitrary pattern. The ridge of each of holes 52 may be threaded in the same way as opening 36 of footwear 12, or be otherwise adapted to engage thread of ridge 32 of heel 16. For example, holes 52 may be arranged in the form of a competitive ladder, having openings representing competing teams. Board 14 may include marking for specific heels 16 and may, for example, act to encourage collectors to acquire an entire set of heels 16 (e.g. all heels representing a team, event or the like).

Optionally, display board 14 may further include contacts at the ridge of each of holes 52, in electrical communication with a controller 56. Conveniently, the contacts may be in electrical communication with complementary contacts on heels 16, when mounted to display board 14. Board 14 may include copper etching or similar wires or traces interconnecting these contacts to controller 56. Controller 56 may include sufficient logic to actuate heels 16 through these contacts. For example, controller 56 may include a programmable processor, or other logic circuit.

In use, a collector obtains footwear 12 (typically a pair of shoes—each of the form of footwear 12). Additionally, a collector may obtain additional heels 16 as desired. Heels 16 may be sold separately or be given away or otherwise distributed as promotional items. As desired, the user may install a heel 16 on footwear 12 by screwing ridge 32 of heel 16 into opening 36 of sole 34. While being worn, the bottom of footwear 12 may thus display the heel and any adornment. At the same time, the side of footwear 12 displays the side of heel 16. The side of heel 16 may display a particular colour, lighting or the like. If heel 16 is equipped with a motion or impact sensor and lights, the lights may illuminate as the user walks. If heel 16 is embossed, it may leave an imprint as the user walks.

To prevent heel 16 from loosening or twisting set screw 28 may be inserted into bore 26 and tightened. More specifically, set screw 28 passes through bore 26 that extends through ridge 32, locking heel 16 in place angularly, to prevent its rotation in opening 36. Of course, other locking mechanisms for locking heel 16 in angular position will be apparent to those of ordinary skill. For example, a ratchet and pawl could be used to lock heel 16 in angular position, prevent counter-clockwise rotation of heel 16 in opening 36.

As the user's allegiance or mood varies, the use may interchange heel 16 on footwear 12 with other heels 16 in his/her collection (e.g. like those illustrated in FIG. 9).

Heels 16 not in use by the user may be stored on display board 14 as illustrated in FIG. 10. Conveniently, they may be screwed to board 14 in the same way as these are screwed to footwear 12. Collected heels 16 can thus be stored and displayed.

In the event that board 14 is equipped with controller 56 and heels 16 include LEDs and contacts, controller 56 of board 14 may be actuated to cause heels 16 to illuminate. Heels 16 may illuminate in a particular order. For example, they may be illuminated in a clockwise direction. Alternatively, if the heels represent a sports ladder, they may sequentially illuminate to represent wins/losses of teams. Other illumination patterns will be apparent to those of ordinary skill, and may be dictated by software/hardware of controller 56.

As should now be apparent, the above described embodiments may be modified in many ways. For example, mounts for heels 16 need not be the same on footwear 12 and board 14. For instance, heels 16 and board 14 could be equipped with additional adhesive (such as a hook and loop fastener) to allow mounting of heels 16 on board 14. Shoe 12 could be equipped with a ridge (like ridge 32 of heel 16), and heel 16 could be equipped with a complementary hole or annular groove in place of ridge 32. Alternatively, heel 16 could be equipped with another protrusion that could be fixedly mounted to sole 34. The protrusion could be square or rectangular socket mount with a detent mechanism, domes and snaps, or another suitable mount. Alternative shapes for heel mounts could also be used. Board 14 could have complementary mounts.

Of course, the above described embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting. The described embodiments of carrying out the invention are susceptible to many modifications of form, arrangement of parts, details and order of operation. The invention, rather, is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims. 

1. A piece of footwear, having a sole and a heel mount suitable for mounting and displaying one of a plurality of collectible heels, wherein each of said heels comprises a complementary mount, and is adorned with collectible markings, and wherein said plurality of heels are interchangeable.
 2. The piece of footwear of claim 1, wherein said sole comprises and opening and said mount comprises a thread in said opening.
 3. The piece of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a set-screw for fixedly mounting a heel on said sole.
 4. The piece of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of said heels is adorned with at least one of the name of an athlete, the emblem of a sports team, a real or fictitious character, a national flag, or collegiate marking.
 5. The piece of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of said heels is embossed to leave an imprint when affixed to said footwear and worn by a user.
 6. A piece of footwear, having a sole and a heel mount on said sole suitable for mounting and displaying one of a plurality of interchangeable collectible heels, and one of said collectible heels mounted to said heel mount, said collectible heel adorned with collectible markings.
 7. A system for housing and displaying collectible heels, said system comprising: a piece of footwear as claimed in claim 1, a display board having a plurality of heel mounts, each of said heel mounts for mounting and displaying one of said plurality of collectable heels.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said display board comprises a rigid substrate.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of heels comprises at least one light, and wherein said display board comprises a controller for actuating said lights when said heels are mounted to said display board.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of said heels comprises a battery for illuminating its light.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein said display board comprises a plurality of openings, one for mounting each of said heels.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of said openings comprises a contact for electrically engaging a contact one of said heels when mounted the opening.
 13. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said heels is adorned with an aesthetic feature making it a collectible.
 14. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said heels comprises a thread for mounting said heel to said heel mount of said footwear.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said thread mounts said heel to said display board.
 16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a set screw for securing said heel on said sole.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said set screw is formed of nylon.
 18. The system of claim 1, wherein said heel is embossed to leave an imprint when affixed to said footwear and worn by a user. 